Adhesive applicator



July 24, 1956 c. D. OLSON ADHESIVE APPLICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1953 w il W W, 5 2 5 Z i u Z a r g 5 1% A 4 J J J y ,/|/|J Z d.

INVENTOIE.

CLINTON D. OLSON BY JM flaw W2 WW 4% ATTORNEYS July 24, 1956 c. D. opsou 2,755,758

ADHESIVE APPLICATOR Filed April so, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLINTON D. 01.50:

ATTORNEYS ADHESIVE APPLICATOR Clinton D. Olson, Chatham, Ontario, Canada, assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 30, 1953, Serial No. 352,117

3 Claims. (Cl. 118-226) The present invention relates to an adhesive applicator and more particularly to an applicator for applying a marginal coating of adhesive to a plane surface.

In the can or container making industry it is customary to pack a collection of empty containers or cans in a large size paper bag or carrier for shipment, so that the containers may be kept clean while being transported from the can factory to the cannery. In packing one of these carriers, the cans or containers are arranged in layers or tiers, a fibre sheet is placed over the uppermost layer or tier of cans in the carrier as a closure and the top edge of the carrier then is folded over and sealed to the closure. The edge of the carrier is sealed to the closure by means of an adhesive applied to the marginal edge of the fibre sheet or closure usually by hand with a brush or nozzle. This is a slow and costly procedure.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a compact semiautomatically operated machine which is inexpensive to make and which will speed up the application of an adhesive to the closure.

The primary object of the invention therefore is the provision of a device or mechanism which applies a marginal edge or border of adhesive to a plane surface.

Another object is the provision of such a device wherein a stripe of coating material of any desired width may be applied to a plane surface, the coating being evenly and economically applied at all points along the surface.

Another object is the provision of such an adhesive applicator having a minimum of working elements to facilitate the cleaning of the apparatus.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of an adhesive applicator embodying the instant invention, the view showing a sheet in place in the applicator, parts of the applicator and the sheet being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially along the broken line 2-2 in Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the movable parts in a different position, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are reduced scale perspective views of a typical fibre carrier for containers, Fig. 5 showing the carrier ready for closing and sealing and Fig. 6 showing the carrier fully sealed for shipment.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, the drawings illustrate a manually operated device for applying a band or stripe A (Fig. 5) of liquid adhesive to the marginal edge portions of a substantially rectangular sheet B of fibrous material used as a closure for a can carrier C, although the invention is equally well adapted to applying other substances such as coating tates Patent 0 F 2,755,768 Patented July 24, 1956 materials to articles other than the sheets B. In the instant case the stripe A of adhesive is applied to one face of the sheet, with the stripe extending entirely around the sheet in spaced relation to its peripheral edges. While the adhesive is still wet, the sheet or closure B is placed inside of the carrier C on top of the cans carriedtherein as shown in Fig. 5 and the upper edge portions of the carrier constituting flaps D are folded down into engagement with the adhesive as shown in Fig. 6 to hold the closure in place and thereby seal the carrier for shipment as explained above.

The device for applying the adhesive to the sheets B comprises in part a shallow horizontally disposed open top reservoir 11 (Figs. 1 and 2) supported on a frame 12 and containing a supply of adhesive 14 (Fig. 4). The reservoir 11 preferably is rectangular in shape and is provided with a pair of opposed side walls 15, a pair of opposed end walls 16 and a bottom 17. The corners of the reservoir 11 preferably are indented as best shown in Fig. l to provide right angular pockets 18 defined by short wall sections 19, 20 offset from the side walls 15 and end walls 16 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The adhesive 14 in the reservoir 11 is applied to a sheet B preferably while the sheet is in a horizontal position suspended over the reservoir. For this purpose the sheet is supported on a rectangular horizontal table 23 disposed just below the top edge of the reservoir walls but well above the level of the adhesive 14 in the reservoir. The table is provided with four depending legs 24 which extend down into the reservoir and rest on its bottom 17, the legs 24 fitting loosely within angle iron locating brackets 25 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which are secured to the bottom of the reservoir. These brackets 25 retain the rectangular table 23 in a centralized position relative to the reservoir side walls, and provide for readily removing the table to facilitate cleaning of the reservoir.

The supporting surface dimensions of the rectangular table 23 are less than the surface dimensions of a sheet B so that the marginal edge portions of the sheet overhang the table a predetermined amount suflicient to receive the band or stripe A of adhesive as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. In order to insure proper centralization of the sheets B on the table 23 so that the marginal edge portions overhang equally on all sides, gauge or locating members 28 (Figs. 1 and 2) are provided along two adjacent sides of the table. The gauge members 28 preferably are strap iron members which extend up out of the reservoir and are secured to one of the reservoir side walls 15 and one of the reservoir end walls 16. There are two gauge members 28 spaced along each of these walls. Hence when a sheet B is placed on the table 23 it is merely necessary to push it into engagement with the gauge members 28 to properly locate it in a centralized position.

Application of the adhesive 14 to the marginal edge portions of a sheet B resting on the table 23 is effected by a plurality of applicator bars 31. These bars 31 normally are disposed in a submerged position in the bath of adhesive in the reservoir and are movable up out of the adhesive into a position adjacent and substantially parallel with the peripheral edges of the table 23. There are four of these applicator bars 31 disposed one along each side of the table 23 in spaced relation thereto and in vertical alignment with the overhanging portions of the sheet to receive the adhesive. These bars preferably have a flat top face extending longitudinally of the bars for contact with the sheet B. The width of these faces is equal to the width of the band of adhesive to be applied to the sheet.

Movement of the applicator bars 31 preferably is effected in unison. For this purpose each applicator bar 31 is mounted on the outer ends of a pair of spaced and parallel actuating arms 32 carried on and secured to a rotatable actuating shaft 33 disposed in the reservoir 11, preferably above the level of the adhesive 14 therein. There are four of these actuating shafts 33 located one along each side 15 and 'end wall 16 of the reservoir. The shafts are journaled in bearings 34 formed in the offset walls 19, 20 of the reservoir. The ends of the shafts extend beyond the bearings 34 into the right angle pockets 18 outside of the reservoir and, in three of these pockets, carry meshing bevel gears 36 which thus connect together all of the four shafts. In the fourth pocket, the end of one of the shafts 33 is elongated and carries a handle 37 (see Fig. 1).

Thus when the handle 37 is swung in either direction, all of the shafts 33, through their connecting bevel gears 36, are oscillated or partially rotated in the same direction and all of the arms 32 on the shafts and the applicator bars 31 mounted thereon are either raised or lowered in unison, depending upon the direction in which the handle 37 is swung.

Hence when a sheet B is placed on the table 23 and is properly located against the gauge members 28, the operator swings the actuating handle 37 in the direction to raise the applicator bars 31 up out of the bath of adhesive 14 in the reservoir 11 and lift them into contact with the lower face of the marginal edge portions of the sheet overhanging the table. This movement of the applicator bars 31 causes them to carry up out of the reservoir 2. film of adhesive on the flat faces of the bars, and apply this film to the overhanging marginal edge portions of the sheet, as the band or stripe A. The applicator bars 31 are of sutiicient length to substantially meet at their ends when in fully raised position and thus apply the adhesive as a substantially continuous band or stripe.

Provision is made to limit the upward travel of the applicator bars 31 so that the sheet 13 will not be lifted off the table 23 during application of the adhesive thereto. For this purpose and adjustable set screw 41 (Figs. 1 and 2) is disposed in vertical alignment with one of the actuating arms 32. The screw is threadedly secured in a bracket 42 attached to the reservoir 11. A locking nut 43 is provided to lock the screw in an adjusted position.

After an application of the adhesive to a sheet 13, the applicator bars 31 are returned to their original position submerged in the reservoir, by a reverse movement of the actuating handle 37. The sheet is then removed from the table turned down side up and inserted in a carrier C for sealing the same, as hereinbefore explained.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages wiil be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

1 claim:

1. An apparatus for applying a liquid coating substance to articles, comprising in combination a reservoir containing a supply of said substance, a stationary support disposed adjacent said reservoir for an article to be coated, 'a plurality of applicators disposed in said reservoir, a rotatable actuating shaft for each of said applicators, means connecting said shafts for rotation in unison, and means for rotating one of said shafts to actuate all of said applicators simultaneously to apply onto said supported article a quantity of the coating substance from said reservoir.

2. An apparatus for applying a liquid coating material to a plane surface of an article such as a fiat sheet, comprising in combination a reservoir containing a supply of said coating material, a stationary table in said reservoir with its top disposed above the surface of said coating material in the reservoir for supporting a said article with a marginal portion of its plane surface extending beyond said table top and overlying said coating material, a plurality of actuating arms pivotally mounted adjacent said reservoir and extending inwardly toward the table, applicator bars on the free ends of said actuating arms and normally submerged in said coating material under said marginal portion of the article, each of said bars having an applicator face for transferring said coating material from the reservoir to said marginal portion of the article, means for oscillating said arms on their pivotal mountings for raising said applicator faces to transfer coating material from said reservoir to said marginal portion of the plane surface of said article, and an adjustable stop element for stopping said arms in a predetermined upper position to prevent movement of said applicator faces beyond the normal plane of the surface to be coated.

3. An apparatus for applying a liquid coating material to a plane surface of an article such as a flat sheet, comprising in combination a reservoir containing a supply of said coating material, a stationary table in said reservoir with its top disposed above the surface of said coating material in the reservoir for supporting a said article with a marginal portion of its plane surface extending beyond said tabletop and overlying said coating material, a plurality of actuating arms pivotally mounted adjacent said reservoir and extending inwardly toward the table, applicator bars on the free ends of said actuating arms and normally submerged in said coating material under said marginal portion of the article, each of said bars having an applicator face for transferring said coating material from the reservoir to said marginal portion of the article, and means for oscillating said arms on their pivotal mountings for raising said applicator faces to transfer coating materiai from said reservoir to said marginal portion of the plane surface of said article, said means comprising a series of shafts on which the arms are fixed, miter gear connections between adjacent ends of said shafts, and a handle at one end of a said shaft whereby oscillating movement imparted to said handle is communicated to each of said arms simultaneously and said applicator faces are thereby raised in unison to effect the application of coating material to the article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 418,211 Mosman Dec. 31, 1889 1,194,244 Schwartz et al Aug. 8, 1916 1,992,636 Rosen Feb. 26, 1935 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A LIQUID COATING SUBSTANCE TO ARTICLES, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A RESERVOIR CONTAINING A SUPPLY OF SAID SUBSTANCE, A STATIONARY SUPPORT DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID RESERVOIR FOR AN ARTICLE TO BE COATED, A PLURALITY OF APPLICATOR DISPOSED IN SAID RESERVOIR, A ROTATABLE ACTUATING SHAFT FOR EACH OF SAID APPLICATORS, MEANS CONNECTING SAID SHAFTS FOR ROTATION IN UNISON, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING ONE OF SAID SHAFTS TO ACTUATE ALL OF SAID APPLICATORS SIMULTANEOUSLY TO APPLY ONTO SAID SUPPORTED ARTICLE A QUANTITY OF THE COATING SUBSTANCE FROM SAID RESERVOIR. 